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Local women sentenced in Katrina fraud cases A mother and daughter, both from Clarke County, were sentenced in federal court last week for filing false claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for supposed property damage they each said they received during Hurricane Katrina. Lawanda Williams, of Jackson, appeared before U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose in Mobile, Jan. 24, and was sentenced to six years and three months in prison for defrauding the federal government out of $267,377 in aid money. She was also ordered to surrender televisions, real estate, four vehicles, electronics and other items she purchased with the money. In addition she is required to pay back the entire amount of money she falsely received. On Friday, the same judge sentenced Williams' mother, Hannah Williams, of Grove Hill, to three months probation for also filing fraudulent claims. The elder Williams was charged with falsely claiming that her home on King Institute Way in Grove Hill was flooded and damaged by a sewage backup in the home. She, like her daughter claimed her home was damaged by the storm. She applied for aid from FEMA and received $22,904.
Both women pleaded guilty to the charges against them in federal court last year.
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